Today, the California State Legislature passed groundbreaking
legislation to reduce methane pollution caused by leaks in the state’s aging
natural gas pipelines. Methane is the primary ingredient in natural gas and is
a potent climate-destabilizing pollutant. SB 1371, authored by Sen. Mark Leno
(D-San Francisco), will now head to the Governor’s desk.

“In order to
protect public health and the environment, we must keep natural gas in the pipes
where it belongs as opposed to letting it leak into the air,” said Sen. Mark
Leno, the author of the legislation. “SB 1371 serves this dual purpose by
ensuring that leaking gas pipes are repaired quickly and in a cost-efficient
manner for consumers.”

California is the nation’s second largest consumer of natural gas, with over
100,000 miles of pipes and other equipment delivering natural gas to customers
across the state. Given the documented widespread nature of leaks within the
vast system, today’s vote reinforces California’s leadership in reducing
emissions that contribute to climate change, with the added benefit of
eliminating waste of a critical energy resource. So-called “fugitive” emissions
equate to millions of dollars of lost gas that Californians end up paying for
in their monthly utility bills.

“Repairing and preventing leaks in our natural gas pipelines will create
family-sustaining jobs and local infrastructure investment while reducing
emissions that contribute to climate change,” said JB Tengco, California
Director of the BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership of labor and
environmental organizations. “SB 1371 will benefit not only workers but the
state as a whole."

If the bill becomes law, California would join other state and federal efforts
to mitigate methane emissions. Colorado adopted direct methane regulations in
February, while earlier this year the White House released a national methane
reduction strategy. As part of this strategy, EPA is on track to decide this
fall how to best pursue additional methane reductions from the oil and gas
sector, and the California Air Resources Board is also considering new methane
regulations for oil and gas development.

According to Tim O’Connor,
Director of EDF’s California Climate Initiative, “Today’s vote is a huge step
towards the build-out of a comprehensive strategy in California to reduce
methane pollution. Implementing policies to curb the loss of a valuable
resource is good for both California’s environment and our economy.”

The BlueGreen Alliance is a strategic partnership that brings together
major U.S. labor unions and America's most influential environmental
organizations and unites nearly 16 million members and supporters in pursuit of
good jobs, a clean environment and a clean economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.